THE action in Bellewstown was abandoned after three horses stumbled and slipped up in the first two races. The decision to cancel racing was not related to the incident which led to champion jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle being transferred to Our Lady Of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda for further evaluation.

In the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden over an extended seven furlongs, Camino Lad (9/2) was smartly away and dictated throughout before being narrowly headed by 10/11 favourite Karrygrant at the furlong pole.

Camino Lad rallied for Colin Keane, though, to force a photograph before getting the verdict by a nose for owners Sean Jones and David Spratt, much to the surprise of his trainer Ger Lyons.

He said: “I genuinely thought I was second, I obviously need to go to Specsavers! Johnny (Murtagh, trainer of Karrygrant) said, ‘I don’t know’ and I said, ‘Don’t be silly, I’m second and beaten a head’.

“I said I would have a score with him. I would have been happy to pay the score! He really is a backend four-year-old, not a three-year-old, and he’s not a miler.

“I just took a gamble because it was horses rated such, and a median type of maiden to put him in, and he’s game.

“Colin wanted headgear on him and we put the headgear (blinkers) on him and it worked - everything worked. We are lucky around here.”

Star Of Beauty (Billy Lee) stumbled badly on the top bend and Browne McMonagle’s mount, Mosel, suffered an injury a furlong and a half out. This led to a delay while Browne McMonagle was tended to, and while remedial work was carried out to sand the top bend.

Breakthrough

Wegotogether made the breakthrough in Division 1 of the Ploughman Bar & Grill Handicap for Gavin Cromwell and the Zephyr Syndicate.

Gary Carroll had her tracking the leaders and the 11/1 shot was ridden to lead a furlong out. She stayed on well to see it out by a length and a quarter from 2/1 favourite Launch Time.

Cromwell said: “She had been a little bit frustrating, but nice to win a race with her. It wasn’t a great race, but great to win one.

“Gary gave her a nice ride. She had a bad draw, but she jumped well and got up into a nice position, followed the favourite around and got it smooth. Hopefully, she can build on it.”

Abandoned

In that race Pettus Bridge (Ben Coen) slipped up on the top bend and brought down Distillate (Adam Caffrey). The stewards met with a delegation of riders, trainers, the clerk of the course, and the racecourse manager. The decision was taken to abandon the remainder of the card in the interests of safety.

Dr Jennifer Pugh, IHRB Chief Medical Officer, later provided an update on Browne McMonagle: “Dylan was conscious when leaving the racecourse and is recovering well in hospital this evening. Dylan will be kept in Our Lady Of Lourdes Hospital overnight for further assessment and observation, and will be out for a number of weeks, but will make a full recovery.”